House for sale!

Base purely on yours truly observation, backed by neither scientific study nor proven statistical data.

Class based society in Malaysia is engulfing the existing great divide.
The void that fill the gap between the elite and the poor is growing. The rich is getting richer , while the middle class is being screwed by the rich and the poor - obviously getting poorer.

Where is the pain point?
The challenge of owning a house in major cities can be use as a yardstick. It is essentially made worse by the lack of policies to protect and ensure every one have/will have a roof over their head - regardless of their income and geo-location.

Alternatives?
Learn from the Koran.
Learn from others - look across the causeway and see how it is done there. It start with good town planning, house design for a family of 5 and a good employee financial scheme to enable newly weds to be able to register and get the house that fit their income range.

If left unchecked, the scarcity of affordable housing for target groups will leave a majority of Malaysian helpless. It will fuel social ill that will result in a degraded life quality for all Malaysian, rich and poor.

Real estate bubble is only helping the rich , but it will turn on them if the bubble are to burst.


Malaysian public (the 99%) - ask your YB and YAB.

Another year full of promise

- 2011 was too quick. It came and now it is gone. Time tend to do that to those that are over 30.
- 2012 promise to be a great year, at least to the optimist bunch. It is an open slate. The proverbial clean (& white) canvas for one to draw on.
- 2012 will have its fair share of mayhem, at least to the pessimist out there. Mother nature furies, sex scandals, financial turn moils, fall of dictators and more sex scandals.

Facebook and Face time

In the era of social networking, FB and Tweeter reign supreme as the king of the social media hill.

They kick started the era of self glorification on a biblical proportion.
Everyday events (such as peeing , crapping) become subject of much discussion and debates.
There are 5 types of social media users -
1. The loggers. They are log on n log in 24x7. A visit to the local sundry shop would trigger 35 entries.
2. The gurus. They log in to post Gandhi-esque entry. They take their entry very seriously and expect serious response. They use the media as a platform to preach.
3. The gamers. They are there for the online games. Enough said
4. The lookers. They don't actually post anything. They don't contribute , they don't enrich , they only use.
5. The sickos. They log in to stalk other people and they are dangerous.

Over Analysis

Since my last posting, Arsenal has turned the table for the better. Winning matches and scoring like no body business. So enough of that. The over scrutiny of the EPL with the over analysis and over broadcasting in local media is paralyzing and sickening.

Lamenting Arsenal of 2011-2012

Things are not going as good over at the Emirates. It was a result of the exodus of key players in the last few months. This was well documented in international & local media. And of course, every Joe is an expert when it comes to the what, why and how.

However, not many have discussed to the details on how Arsenal clinch the double double in 2001 and 2004. A heroic feat, done with a team that was a mix bag of young and old. A well experienced back line (Adam etc), (imho) the best midfield ever assembled that was shepherd by the magical Viera and a very potent front line with a 17 years old superstar in the making.
Arsenal played the quick and fluid passing football. This was when Pep Guardiola was still marshaling the midfield of a somewhat mediocre Barcelona squad.

In 2004, on their way for their second double of the premier league, the Arsenal juggernaut went on a 49 games unbeaten run. That Arsenal team made a lot of people fall in love with football all over again. It was fluid, it was beautiful and it produced results.

So why can't this formula be sustained or in current situation, why can't it be revived? The answer lies in the pace of player development , the retention of key players and acquirement of key new players. Arsenal preference of offering 1 year contract for players above 30 has shun away massive talents. It's lack of quality youngsters coming through the rank has compounded the problem. Some lackluster purchases over the years didn't help either. The writing is on the wall and it all blew up early in this 2011-201 season.

Now Arsenal can no longer afford to play beautiful football. It now has to inject the spirit of the minnows, the likes of Wimbledon(of the old) and Bolton. Dejected as it may sound, the quick passing and beautiful football that was so synonymous with the Arsenal of the old, will never be recaptured. It's new home is at the Nou Camp.

Rain

Rain
Wash away the dirt
Wash away the impurities
Wash away the dark spots

Rain
Rejuvenate beings
Refresh spirits
Replenish senses

Rain
Drowns
Engulf
Suffocate

Rain

Sahabat itu Kawan

Kawan itu Sahabat
Yang memuji pada gemilang ku
Yang memulas pada salah ku
Yang melawak pada jenaka ku
Yang menenang pada keliru ku
Yang menangis pada sedih ku

Sahabat itu Kawan
Yang di kurnia Allah
Yang aku bersyukur kehadirannya

Must Watch- It has started!

What is happening in Tunisia is now spreading to Egypt.
Power of the masses toppling oppressive anglo-backed regimes or something more sinister?

Sheikh Imran Hussein has predicted this scenario in 2009. Watch this and get ready to be surprised.

Football: Get Harry Redknapp.

As another season-to-forget is about to end, some one in Liverpool FC need to make some quick decision and act fast:

1. Get a new manager and make it English. Get Redknapp. The man has proven hist mettle over the years. From his time at West Ham, moulding future internationals such as Lampard, Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Carrick till his success at Portsmouth-Southampton-Portsmouth and now at Spurs.
2. Work on local talents and send back the overly sensitive sombreros contingents (yes, Torres included) back to Spain. This is English league for God's sake!
3. Be patience and give Redknapp 3 season. He will deliver, mark my word.
4. If Redknapp is not available, then go for O'Neil.

Concert: Double Trouble

A no show!

Quote: Being Ready Freddy

"I am not only ready, but I am Ready Freddy!"

- Spongebob Square Pant

Golf: A day at the office

Tropicana was the venue for the quarterly golf event. The Augusta National pro shop shirt proved to be more striking than the golf which was bordering to disastrous. But it sure was fun!

Golf: Family Reunion at KGTU

A long awaited family reunion in April 2010.

Featuring Cpt. Marican Yunus Mohd Sultan, Haizal Saul Hamid Mohd Sultan and Mohd Rizal Ibrahim Mohd Sultan.

On another golf note, Kinrara is hosting the Malaysia golf asc. tournament this week. I bumped into Mat Jamil (Jawi's resident pro) and Shaaban Hussein . While Mat Jamil was completely exhausted, Shaaban was pushing another 200 balls at the range. No photo to share but it was nice to meet up with Mat Jamil again. Good luck to both!

How to be better , in everything?

A good friend asked yours truly a question on how to be better at his profession.

He was newly promoted and wants to ensure that he raised his proverbial 'bar'

My advice was quick and corny, which speaks volume of my intelligentsia (*burp!) - continue to do what ever you are doing because it works (hence the promotion) and extend your scope of influence. I am sure the poor fella was left a bit daze and confused at the end of the email conversation.

Now that my thoughts are clearer, I would like to re response to my friend in a more proper manner, befitting my lack of scholars. How to do better , in everything?

1. Be the best in what you do. Learn, re learn and learn some more.This is what The Koran and Prophet Muhammad taught the world, embrace it.
2. Apply what we learn to our work. It refreshes our perspectives.
3. See the bigger picture. Always look at a problem from a higher level. A lame example - if your team encountered a generic problem, while focusing on fixing the issue within your team, also look at other team if there have the same problem. We can either learn from them on how to fix it or pass on our solution to them.
4. Be philosophical. When we are philosophical, we tend to conform to a rule and a standard. It helps us to be consistent. How to be philosophical? Easy, go do #1.

Now Yoda sleeps. Till next time.

My Facebook by Armand Maulana and GIGI

In the late 90's, a Bandung based rock band that goes by the name of GIGI landed on our shores as part of a well crafted publicity campaign by its record's label and a new local radio station (Era)

Fronted by the charismatic Armand Maulana , it brings a unique pop rock sound that is heavily influenced by its master shredder Dewa Budjana.

GIGI single handedly pave the way for the Indon invasion.

Please check one of their newer song, My Facebook - available in YouTube. It will put a smile on you, trust me!

Israel Peace Initiative, I like!

After almost 40 years of countless failed foreign led peace effort, Israel has decided to lead its own peace initiative with the Palestinians.

Arms to the teeth with its Cobra chopper , Merkava Mark IV tanks and brave commandos (see picture to appreciate) , the Israel Defense Force (IDF) led initiative aims to bring peace to the holy land by end of the year.

Their strategy requires zero talking and maximum bombing. FOX news calls this approach Genius!

The critical milestones includes punching a hole big enough to put up 28 new townships in Gaza, of which will be occupied by gun-totting-Russian-Jews-extremism.

Netanyahu was quoted as saying that the effort was a result of lateral thinking done outside the box. Its success will guarantee Netanyahu the Noble peace prize in 2011. He already has chosen a piece of soon to be occupied Palestinian land that will host a big party to celebrate the occasion.

Palestinian authorities, however, was not contactable for comments.

Where there is a road, there will be a Chinese made car running on it

It's official , Geely is the new owner of Ford's Volvo.

Geli or not, it's now Chinese owned. The onus is on Geely to make it a success. Ford is just too happy to cut it loose for a quick US$1.8Billion. Notwithstanding the current predicament of Tata, lets hope 'Geli geleman' will do the right thing and make something worthwhile out of this deal.

Go Geely Geely!

Read more here

Note to Self: Never repeat this kind of back swing

2010 CNY snafu...

Playing with Shaaban Hussin (lookalike)

CNY holidays get together with Shaaban Hussin (lookalike) , showcasing the tour like swing motion. I am not worthy, I am not worthy.

Human Capacity to do EVIL

It is still a mystery on how ordinary human can do the utmost evil.

Normal Joe like us can turn into a monster and inflict horrendous on a fellow man.

Any one is capable of evil. You, me , any one.

I feel a need to bash up these evil people as they hit news stand with their evil deed.

However, that very notion to inflict revenge, how good the intention is, should be consider evil in itself.

Lets be wary of our evil side and keep it in check.